"We should get dressed."
I hear the heavy sigh. The sigh that he already knows any fight he puts up is futile. "Why? Are you afraid of being caught naked? Or just caught with me?" he says dryly.
Both would scar me for the rest of my life. "Just you. I have a reputation to uphold." I squirm out from under the weight of him against my back. A chill runs over my skin where his sweat was keeping me warm.
"So do I. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to disappoint all those lovely ladies in the Capitol night after night?" An empty threat. He's only been there for three days and having similar trust issues as myself he's not one to jump into bed with just anyone. With the exception of the last week.
"By not having sex with them? You did them a favor Odair, imagine their disappointment if you did," I say heading into the bathroom to retrieve my pajamas.
Despite my insult he welcomes me back under the covers. "You didn't sound disappointed a few minutes ago."
I snuggle back into my warm spot on my stomach, my head resting on his arm. He finds his place as well, one leg between mine, his bare chest pressed up against my clothed back. "You're not getting dressed?"
"Perfectly warm and satisfied over here. Unlike someone who just can't get comfortable." Sure, what's uncomfortable about finally crossing that boundary with your oldest friend? We've only been friends since I was five and he was seven. No shame in crossing that unspoken line less than a week ago.
I stop adjusting myself underneath the covers to appease him. A hand glides under my shirt, resting on my stomach, nestling down for the night. I don't mind sleeping this way. It's much harder to fall asleep facing him.
"This is the last time you know."
"You smell as sweet as honeysuckle, or is that me?"
"Finn, please take this seriously. I thought we were done when you left for the Capitol."
"Are you implying I coerced you into bed last night?" Not to mention the shower.
"We need to agree that this will not happen again." I was under the impression the likelihood of us falling into bed again was at a zero when he left. We both agreed we make better friends and neither of us wants to lose our friendship. What's done was done but we have to be adults about it now.
Then he shows up at my door putting on the same act that got us into trouble in the first place. After he leaves Twelve it's going to be a long time before we see each other again. It will go back to normal. Phone calls and the occasional letter. But I need a little confirmation that we're on the same page.
"How about this? You don't take your clothes off in front of me and I won't make you come so many times you lose count?"
"You made me!" I scoff.
I feel his nude body shamelessly wrap itself tighter around me. "Yes. Yes, I did, didn't I?" He savors saying every single word.
He takes an eternity in the shower. I should have taken his offer of going first. Instead I'm stuck waiting for the world's most vain man to leave my bathroom. "I'll hire Rowan to follow you with a mirror if you hurry up," I shout into the door.
"Have you seen my underwear?" He shouts back.
Maybe. Maybe not. It doesn't matter. It's definitely my turn. "You can borrow a pair of mine for all I care, Finn. I need to shower."
Ten minutes later I get my hot shower. Five more minutes and I'm dressed, packed and ready to go while he's still searching the room. "Were they your special pair or something?"
"I told you, Violet, people are obsessed with those things. And why are you so calm? Someone's going to find them in here and put two and two together." I'm pretty confident if they do it won't be because of a stray pair of underwear.
"Because you were so stealth in your peacock getup last night?"
"It was for work. And I blend in just fine with everyone else in the Capitol." I shouldn't keep teasing him about it. It's not like he enjoys the makeup and clothes. Being a model in the Capitol pays well. Inheriting your mother's dark hair and your father's insane good looks pays extra well.
I guiltily search along with him until we receive our last warning to depart the train. We are unsuccessful and have no choice but to leave empty handed. We flip a coin to see who will have to leave first.
Finn tells me I owe him one when he leaves, facing the first round of onlookers. I put my picture taking smile on a few minutes later. It won't be so bad for me. Everyone in Twelve knows me. But I know Twelve will be growing in size for the next few days. It's a Victor's birthday. A National event. And not just anyone's birthday. My neighbor and adopted grandfather, Haymitch Abernathy.
It's worse than I thought. We are delivered through the flashing lights of the cameras and have to weave through tourists jamming up the roads in separate cars. Less lights and eyes are following me of course. I'm not the golden child of Annie and Finnick Odair. I'm just the second choice for those who were too slow to get a good shot of him.
There's a barricade set up at the road leading to the Victor's Village. Two guards make me exit my vehicle and walk the rest of the way to my house.
The white marble mansion seems to be filled to the rafters with visitors. I see people filing by the windows normally still as a painting. Talking and laughter grow louder the closer I get. Exactly the opposite of what Haymitch requested for his 60th birthday. He only has to tolerate it for two days. Today we'll prepare and tomorrow we'll celebrate. Then District Twelve will go back to its roots. Everyone will go back to work. Back to routine and reality where people don't care who your parents are.
I loop around the house to see if there are less people in the kitchen but quickly realize I'm outnumbered no matter what. I could make a run for it. Hide in my father's house which he uses solely for painting and storage. I'm not feeling up to awkward conversations for two straight days. Constant questioning. Are you seeing anyone? How does it feel being eighteen now? What are your plans for the future? You look just like your mother!
That's my favorite comment. I don't look like her. I have her long, black hair and some facial features but that's about it. She's thin, I'm curvy, or healthy as my parents like to say. She has mysterious grey eyes, I have round, wide open blue eyes. She walks with a strength of a thousand soldiers. I'm standing nervously outside my own home racking my brain on how I can avoid inevitable social interactions.
I'm lost in my own thoughts. Which is why I jump when I hear his voice. "Not planning on burning the house down are you?"
I grin mischievously. "Not without my partner in crime."
The brown haired man with his hands in his pockets returns my smile. I welcome the sight of man wearing a simple plaid shirt and hunting pants. Though I'll have to remind him to change before Effie uses him as an example of what not to wear at Haymitch's party. I'm a little jealous he's already been in the woods without me. "I saw you from the window. Looking like you were hatching some sort of plan."
"To escape. No carnage needed."
"Good luck with that one. Actually your mother sent me outside to see if you were here yet. Finn said you were right behind him..."
My heart catches in my throat. I nod, shocked at myself for reacting that way to hearing his voice. Of course he left first. Why wouldn't he be here first? I thought he might check into the hotel but he's more than welcome to say hello to my family and the other guests.
Feeling a oncoming rush of blood to my cheeks I turn and head towards the nearest door. Therron Hawthorne may be one of my best friends but I'm not ready to fill him on the details of what Finn and I were up to on my visit to Four until Finn is long gone.
Hands are shook. Cheeks are kissed and pinched. I answer the expected questions from so-called friends of Haymitch's. Thank them politely for the comments on my DNA. Avoid Finn and Therron as much as possible. Finn seems amused by this. Therron is annoyed. I didn't call him once while I was away in Four. Usually we're inseparable. He moved to Twelve with his family when we were both fourteen so his parents could give him and his sister a more down to earth childhood. The woods became like a second home to him. We became instant friends. His sister on the other hand... somehow her and Twelve never quite felt their footing together. Kind of like the relationship her and I have.
When I excuse myself to the upstairs bathroom I'm finally able to get a peaceful moment. I let the minutes tick on while I enjoy the only room where I can have solitude until I hear a rasping at the door. "Let me in, quick. It's a matter of life and death."